Method for seismic surveying



Jan- 25,1944- E. M. sHooK ET AL METHOD FOR SEISMIC SURVEYING Filed March 20, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet l 'Jam 25, 1944 E. M. sHooK ET AL METHODn FOR SEISMIC SURVEYING 8 Sheets-Sheefl 2 Filed March 20, 1940 Jan 25j 1944i- E. M. sHoo'K` ET AL METHOD FOR SEISMIC SRVEYING Filed March 20, 1940V 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. M. sHooK ETAL METHOD FOR SEISMIC SURVEYING Filed.March 20, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 E. M. sHooK ETA. 2,340,275

METHOD FOR SEISMIC SURVEYING Jan. 25, 1944.

Filed March 20, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 usas.

25, 1944. E; M` SHOQK ETAL I* 2,349,275

METHODFOR SEISMIC SURVEYING Filed March 2o, 1940- e sheds-sheet e vvvvv 253 fad- 72 Jan. 25, 1944.

|:` M. sHoQK ETAI. v ,2,340,275

METHOD FOR SEISMIC SURVEYIVNG Filed March 20, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Jan. 25, 1944 E. M. sHooK ETAL 2,340,275 METHOD FOR SEISMIC SURVEYING File-@March 2o, 1940 8 sheets-sheet 8 @htm/Mag Patented Jan. 25, 1944 UNITED' STATES PATENT F'FCE METHOD FOR SEI-SMIC SURVE'YING Earley M. Shook and Robert W. Olson, Dallas.

Tex., Vassignors, by mesne assignments, to Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 20, 1940, Serial No. 324,930

3 Claims.

above enumerated results without disrupting the process of recording seismic waves in the manner which has been practiced heretofore in the art of reiiection seismic survey.

In the art of seismic prospecting, it has heretofore been necessary to provide means which will respond to an electrical impulse for producing an indication of the instant of detonation of an explosive charge. This indication when recorded on a seismogram is known in the art as a, time break. To produce such a time break y with some forms of apparatus known it is necessary that reliance must be placedv upon an operator for properly connecting the circuits which detonate the charge of explosive. With this particular type ofapparatus ii' the detonator for the explosive charge Vhas been improperly connected, the rupture of the detonating circuit will produce a transient voltage that is of a polarity that will not be transmitted through the apparatus to the recorder. This would result in an erroneous time break that Wouldcome from subsequent impulses which have been generated by making and breaking the detonating circuit after the charge of explosives has been detonated.

By the instant invention it is possible to eliminate these diiliculties by providing suitable circuits whereby, regardless of the polarity of the transient voltage generated in the detonating circuit, the rupturing of the detonating circuit will produce an indication on the seismogram that is being recorded which will be accurate and a true indication of the instant of detonation of the explosive charge. This feature of the present invention is-claimed in divisional application Serial Number 478,943, i'lled March 12, 1943, and entitled Apparatus for transmitting seismic signals."

In addition to the time break circuit described above, a. number of other circuits by means'of which the instant of detonation can be registered on a seismogram are known. Some of these do not discriminate as to the polarity of the electrical impulse which indicates the instant of detonation Although these circuits do not have polarity discrimination they -have not proven entirely satisfactory due to the fact that no means have been provided for eliminating spurious voltages which when recorded on a seismogram would appear as time breaks. These objectionable features have been lovercome by the instant invention. f f

. When conducting a seismic survey. of a particular area it is always necessary that consid-v eration be taken of the weathered unconsolidated strata. of the earths surface for in' this strata the velocity of wave travel is considerably less than the velocity of wave travel in the denser media. If one fails to take cognizance of this'.

cording data from which the velocity of vertically traveling waves in the unconsolidated outermost strataof the .earths surface can be determined.

The instant invention further provides a method whereby one geophone that has been placed adjacent the mouth of the shot hole, known in the art as the upholey geophone, can be disconnected from the circuit of a geophone forming a part ofthe standard spread or rendered inoperative after it has detected the rst direct traveling impulses. In other words, there can be recorded on a single trace of a multipletrace seismogram the time break, the rst break or breaks arriving at the uphole geophone, the first break of a geophone in the conventional spread and subsequent waves comprising refracted and reflected waves which are detected by this geophone. A conventional spread such as that referred to in this application is of the v type used in reflection or refraction seismic surveying, that is, the geophones are collaterally spaced from the shot point.

From the above it is .obvious that the difiiculties encountered by those practicing the methods of the prior art are obviated in that all the data that is necessary from a single spread when shot in one direction can be recorded on a single seismogram. This record will include a time break indicative of thev instant of detonation of the explosive charge which creates the seismic waves in theearths surface, the time consumed by the vertically traveling wavesV from the explosive charge to the surface and the time required for these waves which have vbeen created by the explosive charge to travel downwardly to the inter faces of the subsurface strata and be reflected completelyeliminated in .that regardless ci the manner in which 'the detonating circuit is made up, the transient voltage resulting from the current dying out of the detonating circuit will always initiate the operation oi means which vwill mark the exact instant oi the detonation ci' the explosive charge.

Another feature of the instant invention resides in the provision of novel means whereby the indication of the instant of detonatlon, the time break impulse, as well as the ilrst impulse from the uphole geophone can be communicated from the shot point to the recording apparatus by means of telephone or `radio. The' local terrain of a particular area in many instances makes the use of telephone lines or conductors very impractical, particularly when the survey is being conducted on bodies of water, such as lakes, or in swamps. In consequence, the use of a single transmission channel for voice signals as well as seismic data is highly desirable. This phase of the present invention is claimed in divisional lapplication.Serial Number 478,944, led March 12, 1943, and entitled Apparatus for recording vseismic waves.

Therefore, a primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a method and apparatus for accurately producing on a. seismogram an indication of the exact instant of detonation of an explosive charge that is used to create seismic waves in the earths surface.

Another object of this -invention resides in the provision of a method and apparatus for recording on a single trace waves which correspond to vertically traveling seismic waves, from the explosive charge to the surface, and waves that correspond to the seismic waves which have traveled downwardly to the interfaces of the substrata and have been reflected to the surface.

, This invention also contemplates means for automatically disconnecting or rendering inoperative the uphole geophone after the waves which travel vertically from the explosive charge have been detected.

It isstill a further object of this invention to Vprovide means rfor automatically rendering inoperative the uphole geophone after the vertically traveling waves have been detected and prior to the reception of waves which have traveled directly to the spread geophones, and those which have been'reflected from the interfaces o subsurface strata. l

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of means for communicating the are provided whereby the ilrst impulses received time break and the first impulse from the uphole geophone to the recording equipment by means of a single telephone or radio communication channel.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision `of means whereby a plurality of data can be recorded on a single trace of a seismograrnin such a manner that any one datum will not interfere with the other data.

Other objects and advantagesof this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a cirrecording unit by means of telephonie communication: Y

Figure 2 is afldiagrammatic illustration of an electrical circultvfvhich differs from that'. shown in Figure 1 in that 'thesystem is connected by capacitances to the telephonie communication system;

yFigure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration oi a circuit by means of which the time break can be communicated to the recording unit showing the push-push time break circuit located at the re'- cording end of the telephone line;

Figure 4 is a modification of the circuit shown in Flgure;

Figure 5 is still another modification of this circuit;

Figure 6 is a composite wiring diagram of elec'- trical circuits by means of which voice communication can be had between the shot ilrer and the recording instrument operator, means for communicating the Atime break impulse to the recorder and means for communicating the rst impulse from the uphole geophone to the recorder;

Figure 'I is a modification of the circuit diagram shown in Figure l differing therefrom in that the time break impulse is communicated to the recorder by means of radio;

Figure 8 differs from Figure 7 in that circuits by the uphole geophone are also communicated to the recorder by means oi! radio;

Figure 9 is a modiilcation of the invention i1- lustrated in Figure 8. By means of the circuits illustrated in this diagram the s ame data can be communicated by radio to the recorder;

Figure '10 is a wiring diagram of an electrical circuit of another modification of this invention -by means of which the time break and the uphole geophone impulses can be communicated to the recording instrument;

Figure l1 is illustrative of a seisrnogram which has been recorded that shows the time break, secondary breaks such as those produced by making and breaking of the detonating circuit after detonation occurs and rst breaks such as those received by any one of the geophones of the spread on one trace and the uphole geophone impulse on the other trace;

Figure l2 illustrates a typical record of the type recorded when using the invention forming the subject matter of this application. The impulse corresponding to the uphole geophone signal has been recorded on a separate trace;

Figure 13 is an illustration of a single trace of a typical record which has been recorded when using the invention forming the subject matter of this application showing the time break, the uphole break andthe iirst break on the same trace of the seismogram in such a manner that any one of the three will not obscure the other; and

Figure 14 illustrates one trace of a sesmogram on which the time break, the uphole break, the rst break, and subsequent reflections have been recorded.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in particular, Figure l, there is shown a circuit diagram of one phase of this invention which deals with the communication of a signal, indicative of the instant of detonation of an explosive charge to create seismic waves in the earths surface, to a recorder. By means of this electrical circuit a signal indicative of the true instant of detonation will be transmitted'to the recording apparatus regardless oi' the polarity oi' the signal voltage generated when the blaster circuit is ruptured by the detonation of the explosive. The current dying out of the blaster circuit, illustrated by block diagram at I0, produces a transient voltage thatwill be communicated to the resista-nce II by means of the conductors I2 and I3. Current flowing through the resistance II will produce an instantaneous voltage drop across this resistance which serves as a charging potential for condensers I4 and I5. Condensers I4 and I5 are in the grid circuit of the gas triode tubes I6 and I1. These tubes are-bf the type commonly known by the trade name thyra-tron. Their characteristics are such that when 'a negative potential of suiiicient magnitude has been placed on their grids, by means of the battery I8, no

plate current will flow. When this negative bias has been removed or in part equalized,'the grid will lose control in the tubes and plate current will flow until it has been interrupted by some means. Therefore, a charging potential placed on condensers I4 and I5, depending upon its polarity, will eauseone of the tubes IB or I1 to fire, resulting in the flow of plate current through' resistance I9 or 20 to charge condenser 2i. The plate current in charging condenser 2| will produce a voltage drop across resistor 22. This voltage drop across the resistor 22 being in the form of arpulse can be impressed upon the primary winding 23 of a transformer 24 to produce a corresponding signal in the secondary windings 25 and 26. By means of conductors 21 and 28 this-transformed voltage pulse is communicated to the communication unit 29 and through the communication unit by means of conductors 38 and 3| to the recording galvanometer 32, where it 'is recorded on a trace of the seismogram.

Tubes I6 and I1 are provided with a common grid'bias potential I8. By connecting these two tubes in the manner shown in Figure 1, one vof the tubes will re on the first impulse received from the blaster circuit regardless of its polarity. After one of the tubes has fired to produce a current in the plate circuit, the condenser 2| is' 7 charged, and once this condenser has become charged, plate current can no longer flow in the circuit.` Therefore, the second tube will be prevented from firing on subsequent impulses which are,of opposite polarity to the first impulsereceived. The condenser 2| therefore in eiect acts as a trap to stop the flow of plate current from the gas trodes I6 and I1. Additionally, after one of the gas triodes I6 or I1 has red, no

further signals will be communicated to the rebe a geophone of a conventional spread. This geophone is connected by means of conductors 36 to the input-fof an amplifier 31. The output of y the amplifier-31 is connected -by means of conductors 38 to the .recording galvanometer 32.

In some casesfit is desirable to use the .time

break impulse received ,from theblaster circuit i connected to the amplifier through leads 4I. Al-

- resistance 22. This circuit functions in the same though for purposes of explanation a single geophone 35 is shown in this figure, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a plurality of geophones are used with their respective ampliers when doing reflection seismic survey work.

In Figure 2 there is shown a slight modification of the circuit illustrated in Figure l. The circuit of Figure 2 differs from that of Figure l in that the plateV circuit'of the gas triode tubes I6 and I1 is capacitively connected by means of condensers 42 and 43 to the conductors 21 and 28 instead of by means of the transformer 24 shown in Figure l. The microphone 33 and receiver 34 in the circuit of Figure 2 are connected in series and' across the leads 21 and 28 on the opposite side of condensers 42 and 43 from the manner describeddn connection with Figure l.

Still another modification of this invention is shown in Figure 3. In this instance the time break circuit is located .not at the shot point but at the recording location. The impulse generated by the rupturing of the blasting circuit iscommuni'cated by means of the telephone lines 21 and 28 to the resistance 44. This impulse regardless of its polarity produces an IR drop across this resistance which acts as a charging potentialfor the condensers 45 and 46. The current flowing in the circuit while charging condensers 45 and 46 produces an IR drop across the resistances 41 and 48. Depending upon the polarity of the impulse received from the blaster. the IR, drop across one of the resistors 41 and 48 will add to the grid bias as-supplied by battery 48 on one of the gas triodes 58er 5I to become suiiiciently less negative that one of. the tubes will fire to produce a ow of plate current through corder from the blastingcrcuit. This condition will exist until condenser 2| has been discharged through the-resistance 2|. This will eliminate spurious voltages generated by the detonating circuit and blaster itself from being communicated to lthe recorder' and recorded on the seismogram trace.

In order tohold duplex communication withthe operator at the recording apparatus, the secondary winding 26 of the transformer 24 is divided and the two sections .of the winding have connected in series with them, but between them, a, microphone 33 and a receiver 34. Condenser 35' is connected across both the microphone and the receiver for the'purposeof by-passing the time break impulse and preventing a. loud click in, the receiver. This condenser is not large enough to reduce voice currents appreciably.

The remainder of the electric seismograph is shown in block-diagram. The geophone 35 may its respective resistance 52 or 53 to charge the condenser 54.- The battery 55 is the usual plate potential supply. Current owing in the plate circuit while condenser 54 is becoming charged produces an IR drop across resistance 56 which can be recorded directly on a recording galvanometer 51 as the instant of rupture of the detonating circuit. Duplex communication can -be had between the shot rer and the recording instrument operator by means of the conventional communication equipment through 'the conductors 58, 59, 21, and 28.

A further embodiment of this invention is illustrated by the circuit diagram in Figure 4. This circuit isintended to transmit a signal that is indicative of the instant of detonation ci the explosive charge, the iirstimpulse rece-ved'by the geophone that is placed adjacent the shot point, and speech by a single telephone channel and at the same timeprevent the three pulsations from interfering with one another or from causing interference on the record. The time break will be transmitted without polarity discrimination.

48 which will-produce an IR. drop across them.

v The IR drop across one of these resistances will add to the bias potential supplied to one oi the tubes I6 or I1 by means of the battery 69 in such a way as to cause the grid to lose control and the tube to become conductive. Current ilowing in the plate circuit will be in the form o! a surge that will charge condenser 6|. This impulse is transmitted through the battery 62, the resistance 69, back to the cathodes of the gas triodes I6 and I1. The ow of this current through the resistance 63 will cause the grid potential on the grid of gas triode tube 64 to become sufilciently less negative th t the gas triode 94 will become conductive and a current will flow in its plate circuit. Inductance 66 is placed in the plate circuit so that there will be a delay in the build-up time for the plate current. The ilow of current in the plate circuit or gas triode 64 produces an 1R drop across the resistance 66 and resistance 61 which will cut 0E the plate current from the amplier tube or translating device 69.

The period of time between the firing of gasY triode 6 4 and cutting oir the plate current from tube 69 is made suiciently long that the uphole geophone will have ample time to detect the iirst impulse of waves traveling vertically upward from the explosive charge. This period of time is controlled by inductance 65 plus resistances 66 and 61 and by varying the position of the tap 69 on the resistance 91. The plate current having been cut off from tube 69 after the impulse received from uphole geophone 19 has been amplified, transformed by the transformer 1| and communicated to the recording instrument by means of the conductors 12 and 13, no further signals can be communicated to the recording instrument and the same trace on which the time break and uphole break were recorded can be used to record signals from one of the geophones in the conventional spread. Additionally, since the tube 69 isolates the bla/.ster the time break and uphole geophone circuits from the telephone line and recording instrument, noises such as those produced by the microphone 'I4 which is connected in the cathode circuit of tube 69 will not produce disturbances on the trace of the seismogram. In order to receive voice signals from the operator of the recording instrument over the telephone line formed by conductors 12 and 13, the secondary winding of the transformer 1| is divided and a telephone receiver 15 is placed in series'but between these two windings. The usual phone condenser 'I6 is connected across the telephone receiver.

.The resistances I8 and 'I9 are placed in the plate circuits of thegas triodes I6 and il to compensate for any difference in the triodes when testing.

This circuit may be tested by closing the switches 99 and 9|. A test time break can then be produced and transmitted by the switch 9|. The circuit can be reset by momentarily closing the switch 99 permitting the condenser 6| to be discharged through the resistance 92 and momentarily opening switch 93' to break the plate circuit of the gas triode 64.

In Figure there is shown a modication of the circuit illustrated in Figure 4. The same results namely, the transmission of the time break, the iirst impulse from the uphole geo-' The flow of this plate current through the re,.

sistance 91 produces an IR drop which will cause the bias potential supplied to the grid of gas triode 99 to become less negative to cause triode -99 to fire. The ilrst impulse of plate current flowing from gas triode 99 through condenser |99 will be impressed on the grid of an amplier tube |9|. The amplified impulse will be transformed by the transformer |92 and conducted by means of the telephone lines |99 and |94 to the recording galvanometer where it is recorded on one of the traces of a seismogram. Resistance |95 is a coupling resistance. The flow of plate current from gas triode 99 will also be through a portion of the resistance |96 to charge the condenser |91. The time required for condenser |91 to become fully charged is controlled by the position'of the contacter von resistance |96. The fully charged potential of condenser |91y serves as a grid bias for amplifier tube |9|. `When this condenser reaches full charge, the bias placed on the ampliiler tube |9| is sufficient to entirely block it to prevent any further signals from the uphole geophone or from the blaster circuit from being conducted to the recording instrument. The period* of time required for condenser |91 to reach its full charge is controlled in such a manner that an impulse delivered to the uphole geophone by vertically traveling seismic lwaves can be' amplified and transmitted to the recorder belfore amplifier tube |9| is biased to cutoff. By blocking amplifier tube |9|, the same trace on which the time break and uphole break has been recorded can be used 'to record signals generated by one of the geophones in the conventional spread. All three signals will be recorded on a single trace without any one interfering with the other.

The microphone 14 and telephone receivery 15 are connected in this circuit in the same manner as described in connection with the circuit diagram of Figure 4.

A further modification of this invention is shown in detail by the circuit diagram of Figure 6.

By means of this circuit the signal indicative of the instant of detonation of the explosive charge which produces seismic waves, the rst impulse generated by the uphole geophone, and signals generated by a geophone of the conventional spread can be recorded on a single trace without one interfering with either of the others. This circuit like the others described above does not have a polarity discrimination characteristic, that is, the iirst impulse received from the blaster circuit or from the uphole geophone whether positive or negative`will be transmitted -to the recording apparatus and recorded on a trace of the seismogram as true indications of the exact instants at which they occur.

A 'signal from the detonating circuit of the blaster I is impressed across the primary winding |09 of the transformer IIII. The resultant voltage in the secondary winding III of this transformer is connected through condensers 46 and 45 tothe grid circuits of gas triodes |6 and I1. This voltage will cause an IR drop to be built up across theresistances 41 and 48 due to current iiowing through them. One of these IR. drops depending upon the polarity of the impulse received from the detonating circuit of the Ablaster will be positive relative to r the negative grid potential existing on the tubes I6 or I1. This positive potential causes the grid potential on one of the tubes to -become less negative permitting the tube to fire causing a flow of current in its plate circuit tocharge condenser 6|. The flow of the current in the plate circuit of this gas triode will be in the form of a pulse for when the condenser 6| becomes charged no further plate current can flow and as a result subsequent signals from the blasting circuit will not re the other gas triode. The pulse of current owing to charge condenser 6| is transmitted'by means of conductor I |2 to the double pole throw switch I I3, through the (switch when it is thrown fin an up position, and the conductor I I4, through resistor |31, meter |38, resistor |38 to ground and plus 75 volts, through D. C. supply to zero volts and back'to the cathode of gas triodes I6 and Il. 'Ihis pulse of current causes an IR drop across resistor |31, meter |38 and resistor |38'. This IR drop is also in the grid-cathode circuit of a repeater tube or translating device I|5 and it is repeated and amplified by tube |I5 and transmitted by means of its plate .circuit I|6 through switch ||8 to the primary ||9 of transformer |20. The voltage induced in the secondary winding I2| of this transformer is impressed on thev telephone channel that is z formed by the conductors 12 and 13. The signal is thus transmitted to the recording galvanometer where it is -recorded on one of of current through resistances |34 or |36 and plate circuit |36which is common to both of the gas triodes. This plate circuit includes the conductor |36, the resistor |31, the milliamiler tube |I5. At the instant the plate current begins to flow the impulse of the current building up in this circuit is triansmitted'through the amplifier tubeL conductor |I3 and contact ||1 of-switch IIB, transformer and the telephone line formed by conductors 12 and 'I3 to the recording galvanometer where it is recorded on a trace of the seismogram. Since'the plate current flowing through the resistor |31 builds up to its maximum immediately, the IR drop across this resistance will bias the amplier tube ||5 to cutoi thereby blocking any further signals which would tend to pass through the amplier tube. 'I'his in effect .isolates the recording instrument from the blaster, uphole geophone, and micro- 'phone circuits so that they will not produce disturbances on the trace on which the uphole imthe traces of the seismogram as a true indication of the exact instant at which detonation of the explosive charge occurred.

After the explosivecharge has been detonated seismic waves will travel vertically from the point where the explosion occurred to the surface of the earth where they are detected by a geophone |23 that has been located adjacent the mouth of the shot hole. Since only the first impulse detected by the geophone is used by the interpreter of the seismograms no more of the signals generated by the geophone are transmitted to the recorder and recorded. Therefore, means are provided' 'as shown in the circuit diagram of Figure 6 for suppressing orfcompletely eliminating all signals from the uphole geophone after the rst'impulse has been communicated-to the recording instrument.

The rst impulse detected by the geophone |23 is communicated by means of the trans-- former |24 to the grid I 25 of an amplifier tube |26. The amplifier tube |26 amplies this impulse and communicates the amplified signal to the grid circuits of gas triodes |21 and |28 by means of the transformer |28, condensers |30 and |3| andthe resistances |32 and |33. This signal impulse will in the manner described in connection with gas triodes I6 and |1 cause one of the tubes I21or |28 to fire and produce a ilow 75' pulse and time break impulse have been recorded that would tend to obscure subsequent signals that are being recorded from a geophone in the conventional spread. Because of the characteristics `of gas triodes yplate current will continue to flow through' resistance |31 and milliammeter' |38 until the circuit has been broken. This can be accomplished by operating switch |51. T'his operation opens contact |58 which breaks the plate circuit for the gas triodes |21 and |28,and also closes contact |58 and thus discharges condenser 6| through resistance |59. -Switch |51 can be of the push button type in which the contacts |58 and |59are resiliently biased to the position shown in the drawings.

'When the contact arms |46 of gang switch |I8 are in the position shown in the drawings, voice communication can be carried on between the recording instrument operator and the shot rer g by means of the telephone receiver` |41 and the microphone |43. However, when the contacts |46 of gang switch |I'8 are thrown to their upper most position the microphone |43 is cut out of the circuit and an-amplier with a loud speaker is thrown into the circuit in such a manner that the recording instrument operator can call the shot rer. 'Ihis amplifier is a conventional amplifier comprising amplifier tube |48, transformer |50, ampnner tube Isl, transformer |52, and the loud speaker |53. When the contacts |46 of the switch |I8 are thrown to the up position the power supplied to the time break circuit, uphole geophone circuit and amplier tube I|5 is cuty off leaving only '-the conventional amplifier and speaker energized.

The device is shown as operating in conjunction with a vibrator power pack. The low voltage D. C. input is applied to terminals to |56. This low voltage is used to run the power pack and the filaments. The high voltage from the power pack supplies the entire plate and bias voltage, the voltage being taken from appropriate taps of a' voltage divider 258.

When the uphole geophone is not used the uphole geophone circuit can' be disconnected from the remainder of the circuit by throwing the double pole double throw switch |I3 to its down position.

This operation disconnects .the

Another embodiment of this invention is shown by the circuit diagram in Figure 1. This embodiment differs from those described above in that the time break is transmitted by radio rather than by telephone lines to the recording instrument without polarity discrimination. The signal from the detonating circuit or blaster I is connected in the manner described above to' the grid circuits of gas triodes I6 and I1 and in the same manner causes one of the tubes to fire and charge condenser 6|. During the time the condenser 6| is being chargedcurrent will now through resistance |6I in returning to the cathodes of either tube I6 or I1 and will produce an IR drop in this resistance. Any portion of this IR drop can be taken oi of the resistance |6| by means of the contactor |62 and impressed on the grid of preamplier tube |63. The output of this amplifier tube is connected by means of the transformer |64 to the modulator of a conventional radio transmitter. the circuit of which is not shown. The amplitude of the input signal from the time break gas triode circuit to the preamplier tube |63 can be adjusted by means of the variable tap |62 on resistor |6I.

In order that the shot rer'can communicate by voice with the recording instrument operator a microphone |66 is connected as shown to the primary winding of the transformer |61; the secondary winding of this transformer is connected through the variable resistance |65 of the grid circuit of the preamplifier tube |63. In this instance it is preferable to use a microphone of the type whose voltage potential |61 is normally disconnected from it. For this purpose a spring biased switch |68 is provided which will cause the voltage circuit to the microphone to remain open except when manually held closed.

Battery |69 provides the plate potential for the preamplifier tube |63 as well as the plate potential for the gas triodes I6 and I1. When it is desired to reset the circuit it is necessary that the switch |10 be momentarily closed-so that the condenser will discharge through the resistor '|1|. Switch 9| is provided so that the negative potential can be removed from the grids of tubes I6 and I1 and causes plate current to iiow for test purposes. The resistance |12 is placed in series with battery 60 to prevent shorting the battery when the switch 9| is closed.

In Figure 8 there is shown still another embodiment of this invention which is a modication of the circuits shown in Figures 7 and 6.v This circuitvincludes the necessary apparatus for disconnecting the uphole geophone after the first impulse generated by it has been recorded on a trace of the seismogram. The transmission of the time break and the uphole geophone impulse in this instance is by means of radio.

In the manner described in connection with Figures 6 and '1 the impulse generated in the detonating circuit of the blaster I8 is communicated to the grid circuits of the gas triodes I6 and I1 to initiate the ilow of plate current from one of these triodes I6 or I1, dependent upon the polarity of the impulse received in the grid circuit. In a similar manner the plate cul'- rent will flowfrom one of these triodes to charge the condenser 6|. The remainder of the plate circuit is the conductor |13, milliammeter |14, the battery 62, potentiometer 63, and the conductor |14a which leads to the cathodes of the lgas triodes I6 and I1. through variable resistance 63 while condenser 6I is being charged produces an IIR drop which when algebraically added to the potential of the grid bias battery 60 will cause the negative potential on grid |15 of gas triode |16 to become suiciently less negative that tube |16 will re. The current from the plate of this tube will build up .slowly in the plate circuit due to the inductance 65 and the resistances 66 and 61. 'I'his period of time is made variable by making the resistance 61 a potentiometer. By moving the contactor 68 of the potentiometer 61 a period of time amply long for the uphole geophone 16 to transmit to the recording galvanometer the ilrst impulse detected by it is effected before preamplifier tube |63 has been rendered inoperative to transmit signals. The IR drop produced across the resistance 66 and that portion of potentiometer 61 between its lower end and the variable contact 68 will build up to a value which will ybias the preampliiier tube |63 to cut oiI and thereby block it so that signals other than the rst impulse from the uphole geophone and time breaksignals can not be communicated to the recording instrument. The preampliiler tube |63 is connected in the manner described. in Figure 7 through a transformer |64 to a modulator circuit of a conventional radio transmitter. The microphone by means of which the shot rer can communicate with the operator of the recording instrument is also connected in the circuit in a similar manner described and shown in Figure 7.

Still another embodiment of this invention is disclosed in Figure 9. The arrangement of the gas triodes I6 and I1 relative to the blaster circuit lsthe same as that described above. Plate current ows to charge condenser 6| located in the plate circuit formed by conductor |11, milliammeter |14, battery 62, resistance |18, conductor |19, and the cathodes of tubes I6 and I1. This current will produce an IR drop across the resistance |18 which when added algebraically to the potential of battery |86 willA cause the grid bias potential on grid |15 of gas triode tube |16 to become sufiiciently less negative that tube |16 will iire to produce a flow of plate current. Resistance |8I is provided in the grid circuit of tubes I6 and I1 to prevent shorting battery |80 when switch I 82 is closed for test purposes. Resistance |83 is a conventional coupling resistance. The plate circuit of gas triodev |16 is divided into three branches comprising in one branch the coupling resistance |83, in a second branch a condenser |84 and variable resistance |85 connected in series and in the third branch a variable resistance |86, condenser |81 and resistance |88 connected in series. At the instant the gas triode |16 fires and plate current begins to iow, condenser |81 and resistances |86 and |86 having a .small time constant, condenser |81 will become charged quickly, after which current will no longer flow in the third branch of the plate circuit. This impulse of current which charges condenser |81 produces an IR drop across the resistance |86 and a portion of this IR drop is tapped off and conducted by conductor |69 through an uphole geophone 90 to the grid circuit of a preamplier tube |63. The signal from the plate circuit of tube |63 is communicated to The ilow of currentthe modulator circuit of a conventional radio transmitter through the mediumpf transformer |64, and transmitted to therecording instrument Y by radio where it is received and recorded on a trace of the seismogram. After condenser |81 in the third branch of the plate circuit of tube |16 has become charged and current ceases to iiow first energy is the desired information. the time in this branch, condenser |84 will be charged. A

The capacity of this condenser is selected such that the time required for it to become fully charged will be sumciently long that the uphoie geophone |90 will detect and transmit through the preampliiler tube |63 the i'lrst impulse received by it. When the charged potential of condenser 184 has become sufliciently high so that when this potential is used as a bias potential for the preamplifier tube |63, the tube will become blocked; then no further modulation can be produced in the modulator circuit of the -radio transmitter. This permits the trace on the seismogram on which the time break impulse and the uphoie geophone impulse have been recorded to be used to record'signals, detected by one of the geophones in the conventional spread without interference. The microphone |66 and transtially the same velocity as the Waves that travel vertically upward to the uphoie geophone. By means of the electrical circuit illustrated in Figure` 10, complete control of the period vof time during which signals from the uphole geophone are being recorded is possible. In this circuit the time break is transmitted exactly the same as in Figure 6.v The signal from the uphoie phone |23'is amplified and repeated through the two stage ampliiier consisting of transformer 26|, repeating tube 262, transformer'263, repeating tube 264, transformer 265 to the telephone lines 12 and 13. 'I'he first impulse from the uphole geophone |23 after having been amplied by the tube 262 will be transmitted to the grid of gas triode 266 by means of conductor 261 and condenser 268. This impulse will drive the grid of tube 266 less negative and cause the plate of tube 266 to conduct. This current ows through resistance 269, contact 210 of switch 21|, resistance 212, conductor 213, to Vplus 75 volts D. C. to 0 volts D. C.,

conductor 214, resistor 215 and back to cathode of gas triode 266. This current produces an llt drop across resistance 215 which charges condenser 216 through resistance 211. The polarity constant is set'so that tube 218 will trip or start conducting on the order of .6l to .02 second after the iirst impulse has tripped gas triode 266. When the plate current of tube 218 iiows through resistance 283 and 284 and meter 282 an IR. drop exists across-them. This IR drop is of such value and polarity that it will increase the negative"y bias on the grid of repeater tube 264 to the po t where tube 264 will cease repeating and will, therefore, c ut the following signals from the uphole geophone |23 out. Additionally, it will prevent the shot firer from speaking to the record ing operator over the microphone circuit composed of microphone 285, battery 286, and resistor 284|. 'Ihis arrangement requires the shot rer to reset the apparatus by closing push button switch 21| down.

When the uphole time is not desired switch 219 is turned to oil position. This cutsI oil the plate of tube 218 and shorts out condenser 6|. With these changes made, the time break push-push gas triodes I6 and l1 conduct upon the arrival of an impulse from the blaster and I this current iiows through meter 282, and re'-i sistances 2 84 and 283 which produces an IR. drop that disables repeating tube 264.' As in the previous instance reset switch 21| must be thrown in the down position to cut the current out of the meter 282 and resistors 284 and 283.

Under some conditions the gas triode tubeA is subject to firing upon the sudden application of plate voltage, even though 'the grid bias and plate voltage are the correct values for non-conduction as specified by the manufacturer; 4The combination of switch 21|, resistor 28| and con denser 281 is an arrangement whereby the voltage'is gradually applied to the plate of gas triode 218. 'Switch 21| is spring biased to the position shown in the diagram. The switch is opened by means of a push button and upon releasing the push button the switch returns immediately to the position shown. Assuming that the plate of tube 218 is conducting, switch 21| is then opened. Current continues to the plate by way of condenser 281 until the condenser becomes charged. This` charge is approximately equal to the plate voltage available for the plate of tube When switch 21| is released, condenser 281 dischargesthrough resistor 28| and produces an IR. drop which is opposite to the plate voltage. At first it is seen that the voltage reaching the plate of 218 is very low. As the condenser 281 becomes discharged and its resulting discharge current IR drop in resistance 28| decreases, thev oi the voltage of' condenser 216 is such that it voltage on the plate comes up to normal. The. same results are obtained in.the plate current of tube 266 by means of condenser 288, contact 218 of switch 21|, and resistor 212.

Figure 11 illustrates a typical record showing only two traces. Trace a .has recorded thereon a time break impulse and the rst breaks occasioned by signals which have been generated by a geophone in the conventional spread. Trace b shows only a record of the signals which have been generated by an uphoie geophone which h as been placed adjacent the shot hole. O n trace a there is shown a succession of secondary breaks which follow the time break impulse. These secondary breaks are due to signals developed in the detonating circuit after the detonation of the explosive charge and are caused by making and breaking the detonating circuit illustrated in Figure 12 can be recorded.

` ket as OA-G gas triodes.

by the ends of the conductors to which the electric blasting cap was connected coming in ycontact with each other or the casing of the shotA hole. Additionally, it will be noted that there is recorded on trace a at c,'a high frequency wave of low amplitude. The signals which produced this wave also originate in the blasting circuit and are caused by commutator ripple in the blaster itself. In order to record the time break, the uphole geophone impulse and the iirst break from a geophone in the .conventional spread on the same trace, it'is necessary that the spurious voltages corresponding to the secondary .breaks and the commutator ripple be eliminated from e the record. By comparingtraces a. and b it will be seen that if an attemptis made to record the uphole geophone break on a 'record which has secondary breaks and commutator ripple recorded thereon, the uphole break would be indistinguishable.

By using the invention forming the subject matter ofv this application, a record such as 'tight n trace d, there is shown a definite time break and a deiinite first break occasioned by signals detected by `a geophone in the conventional spread. The spurious voltages which cause secondary breaks and Icomiiiutator ripple have been entirely eliminated from the trace. By comparing trace d with trace e it is obvious that the record of the uphole geophone impulse could be recorded on the same trace with the time break and the first break occasioned by a geophone in the conventional spread.

In Figure 13 there is illustrated a trace of a seismogram on which the time break impulse, the uphole geophone break and ,the first break from a geophone in the spread are all distinctly recorded on the same trace. It will be noted that each signal is definite and can be accurately read by the interpreter.

The trace shown in Figure 14 differs from that shown in Figure 13- in that signals corresponding to reflected waves are also recorded on the same trace with the other three data. This trace represents an ideal record for it has all of the data recorded on it that is needed from a particular l. spread when shot in one direction. It will be Although-this invention has been described in detail in connection with the use of hot-cathode control-grid type tubes commonly known on the market zas-type 884 and 885, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that these triodes 'can be replaced by cold-cathode starter-anode type gas triodes.Y yThese are generally known on the mar- A shield is indicated in the gas tubes of Figure 6 and Figure 10. These are 'referred to as gas triodes. They are in fact waves, generating and recording on a trace oi a. seismogram a signal indicative of the' instant of detonation, blocking additional signals that are 'generated in the detonating circuit from the recording instrument so that they will not be re-` corded as secondary breaks, detecting the first impulse of waves which have traveled vertically upward from the explosive charge, recording the first impulse on the same trace with the signal that is indicative of the instant of detonation, blocking signals, which are generated by the geophone subsequentto the first impulse, from the recorder, detecting waves which. have traveled directly from the explosive charge to a geophone in a conventional spread, recording these detected waves and subsequent reflections on the same trace with the rst two mentioned v signals.

, seismogram which comprises, creating seismic 2. The method of producing a plurality of seismic data for recordation on a single trace of a seismogram additional electrical impulses produced as a result of initiation of said seismic waves, producing an electrical impulse coincidengas tetrodes, due to the additional element.'

These' are-of the RCA 2051 type. The general characteristics of the gas triode and gas tetrode are the same,

We claim:

11: A method of recording a plurality of seismic data on a single trace of a sesmogram that comprises the steps of 'detonating an explosive charge in the earths surface to create seismic tally with arrival at the earths surface of vertically travelling seismic waves, recording said last-mentioned electrical impulse on said same trace of said seismogram, at a receiving location a substantial distance from said subsurface shotpoint location generating lelectrical signals representative of seismic Waves which have traveled theretmprior to arrival of seismic waves at said receiving location blocking from said seismo gram further impulsesvproduced by said vertically travelling waves, and recording on said same trace of said seismogram the electrical signals generated at said receiving location.

3. In a system in which seismic data is to be transmitted over a single transmission channel from a shotpoint to a recording location, the method of eliminating overlapping of the data on a trace of a seismogram which comprises, creating seismic waves ata shotpoint, generating an electrical impulse at the instant of creation oil said waves, transmittingsaid impulse to the recording location for recordation on a trace of said seismogram as the time break, blocking from said i seismogram all subsequent electrical impulses produced as a result of initiation of said waves, producing an electrical signal upon first arrival at the earths surface of vertically travelling seismic waves, transmitting said signal over said channel to the recording location for recordation on the same trace of said seismogram as the uphole break, aftertransmission of said signal and prior to arrival of seismic waves at a receiving location a, substantial distance along'the earths surface from said shotpoint and relatively near said recording location blocking said channel to prevent further transmission of signals or impulses from said shotpoint to said recording location; as the seismic Waves arrive at said last named receiving location generating electrical signals representative thereof, and recording on 'said same trace of said seismogram said last named signals which are representaive of direct travelling and of reflected seismic waves.

EARLEY M. SHOCK. ROBERT W. OLSON. 

